Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1887-06-23
CHARACTER in WHITING.


Science OF Deciphcrlng Mental Calibcr
from Strokes and Dashes OF the Pen.
It Is called ..graphology." Civiiisa-
ton is not now content to read and
study the meaning of words and
phrases in written communications.
It must also know the character and
makeup OF the writer. The idea Is
not altogether new. 1t is rather m
old accomplishment made prominent
by our latter day tendency to "go"
and push"
Shakespeare said: 'Give me the
writing Of a woman and / will tell
you her character" Suentonius, dur
ing the Roman Empire. declared that
the Emperor Augustus published his
personality every time he signed his
name. Goethe was . careful student
of handwriting. The younger Dumas
declares that graphology is an emf
nently useful science, because 1t is not
necessary to have tho personal ac-
quaintance Of an individual in order to
know him or her.
Now comes another Frenchman, M.
Michon, who declares that 1t was ho
himself who first, acting on hints de-
rived from the Abbo Flandrin, sue
ceeded in forming a definite system,
extending apparently TO the minutcst
detail, for which. of course, 1t Is neces-
sary TO refer to his own treatises. Like
his predecessors however, Michon at
taches much Importance to the goner-
al appearance Of a handwriting. When
tho lines have an upward direction
aeross the page, 1t Is considered to be
an Indication Of hopefalness. while the
converse is suggested by lines tending
downward.
'sThe case has been instanced to MT
Of letter by gentleman whom
know well, shortly after the death o.
his Learest relative, when the lines
ran almost down the page. Ever since
/ became acquainted with him the di
rection of his writing has boon quite
normal; but then, before / knew him
happiness had come to his llfe."
Michon gives very affecting illus
tration Of these points by fac-simile
Of the last letter Of Marie Antoinette
addressed to hcr sister-in-law. Nine
Elisabeth, where one thinks it col
hardly bo mere fancy which detects II
the upward and downward direction
of the lines traces of the emotion of
great soul torn by conflict Of feeling
In the opening words: Il have beel
condemned" the sentence drops visi
bly,. But as tho injured Queen ant
woman rises above her indignitics i
the words: "Not to a death of shame
as that is only reserved for criminals
but to 60 and rejoin your brother,
| the words fise with the rising thought
And.so on throughout one Of tho mos
tender. touching. dignified letter
which was ever pcnned by huma
hand.
| Again, the Indication Of q diplc
matte, not necessarily an inslncere na
ture, is considered TO bc afforded by
waviness IN the lines a sort Of undr
latory motion. while the directio
| itself lies straight across the pagt
Words and lines we'll separated man
fest clear ideas; and an upright styl
shows that in the main the character
one where the head rules, while II
slopes very much to tho right and
much rounded it is rather the hea
which governs. A writing which, b,
ginning its words an ordinary siz
dwindlcs each down smaller m
smaller toward Its end--an "ecritu
, gladiolee," as it is well called--is Il
sign Of assimilation; and. on Il
other hand, those whose tendency
strongly marked in the opposite dire
ton show frank, open, ingenious dl
position. The same trait Is sometim
' indicated by a small a, or o, or G b
ing Enclosed at the top. A writir
whose letters maintain a fair relati,
size throughout is indicative Of
) straightforward, well-balanced chara
ter. Perhaps in no specimen through
out NJ Michon's book is this mo-
striking than in thatof Fenolon, whic
J. Is given as an instance Of mobility
soul"
Where those portions of the lotto
which pass "beyond the line" are pa
ticufarly long upward, @sthet
n tastes are indicated; where Il
o tendency Is downward tho di
n position is rather ''of the cart
5 earthly" A writing whose letters a
Z disconnected is said to be indicative
an intellect guided by tuition rath
Y than by logic. The handwritings
Chateaubriand and Victor Hugo a
y remarkably striking specimens
!. point; while mental constitution dl
!" tinguished for It's logical power h
indications Of precisely opposite nj
uro. Others again show q due q
mixture and balance Of intuition n
2; deduction. The habit in q FREQ al
rapid writing Of linking ono word wi
another by the crossing Of the sm'
y is, or by the tails Of the small DIS.
9 o proof Of good administrative powe
% It Is enough to take in hand bund
~ of ones own correspondence, and
> . through the letters. comparing The
:" with ones knowledge Of the writer
L to see how faithfully this symptt
G speaks. s.-M Y Herald.